Ironman World Championship in Clearwater draws more than 1,500 participants

ironman draws more than 1,500

More than 1,500 triathletes descended on the streets of Clearwater and the surrounding beaches for the fifth and final installment of the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 on Saturday.

Starting and finishing at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach, Michael Raelert of Germany traversed the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run in 3:41:19 to win.

England's Jodie Swallow was the women's champion in 4:06:28.

Among Pinellas County competitors, Vince Tenaglia of Clearwater was the top finisher. Tenaglis completed the race in 4:33:42. He was 27th runner to cross the finish line from Florida.

Jennifer Hutchison had the fastest time among local female competitors, crossing the line in 5:09:03.

The following local triathletes completed the race: Robert Maue, Clearwater, 4:36:59; Daniel Chechele, St. Petersburg, 4:37:52; Nathanael Glack, St. Petersburg, 4:39:45; Lance Chambers, St. Petersburg 4:40:02; Rob Boos, Belleair, 4:42:01; John MacEdo, Clearwater, 4:43:18; David Frazer, St. Petersburg, 4:50:05; Ben Wright, Palm Harbor, 4:59:36; Matthew Thomas, Tierra Verde, 5:03:06; David Bell, St. Petersburg, 5:09:24; Brian Scott, Largo, 5:10:49; John Glasscock, St. Petersburg, 5:15:15; Jeff Mount, Palm Harbor, 5:25:12; James Musial, St. Petersburg, 5:27:35; Frankie McDermond, Pinellas Park, 5:28:47; Larry Witt, Palm Harbor, 5:30:37; Allison Coletti, Belleair, 5:31:51; Shannon Shearer, Largo, 5:33:44; Sandy Rogers, Largo, 5:38:55; Matthew Weidner, St. Petersburg 5:39:10 John Smith Ii, St. Petersburg, 5:45:24; Reva Moeller, Treasure Island, 5:48:33; Marcos Alegre, Seminole, 5:51:21; Chelsea Fulfort, St. Petersburg, 6:01:50; Rick Wilson, Palm Harbor, 6:03:53; Jaih Jackson, St. Petersburg, 6:05:08; Carter Jones, Dunedin, 6:05:43; David Wilson, Palm Harbor, 6:05:52; Kent Rodahaver, St. Petersburg, 6:06:03; Mary Repp, Palm Harbor, 6:27:59; Clare Kelley, St. Petersburg, 6:28:44; Sofia Bereza, Clearwater, 6:30:21; Justina Guenthner, Clearwater, 6:30:24; Kirstin Johnson, Largo, 6:31:05; Brian Gove, Clearwater, 6:39:27; Michael Bardecki, St. Petersburg, 6:56:16; Brian Stancari, Safety Harbor, 6:57:06; David Allbritton, Clearwater, 7:09:09.

RUN FOR ROTARY

Andrew Chandler nudged Keith Sawayda at the tape to win the Run for Rotary 6.8-mile race in Holiday on Sunday.

Chandler, 37 of St. Petersburg, and Sawayda, 47 of Clearwater, each showed a time of 40:41 upon completion of the race, which had 49 participants.

The women's race wasn't nearly as close as Lisa Williams, 32 of Largo, won by nearly four minutes in 46:21.

Dunedin's Amanda Daniels won first place in the women's 25-29 year old age group in 58:41, and Brian McManus from St. Petersburg ran 55:59 to grab the men's 40-44 group.

Amy Canavan had the best showing at the 3.9-mile Run for Rotary race on Sunday.

Canavan, 35 of Palm Harbor, was third in the women's race with a time of 30:54. She was the top runner in the women's 35-39 group.

Also winning their age group locally were: (F15-19) Mary Margaret Mason, Safety Harbor, 33:22; (F20-24) Tara Carillon, Clearwater, 33:00; (F25-29) Jessica Carillon, Clearwater, 32:00; (F50-54) Camille Valentino, Palm Harbor, 35:28; (M55-59) Angelo Lontakos, Tarpon Springs, 40:14; (F65-69) Jean Hayes, Tarpon Springs, 40:07.

Paris Williams (25:20) of Odessa and Natalie Dudley (29:08) of Trinity were the men's and women's champions in the 3.9-miler, which had 81 finishers.

NEWS FROM PANAMA

St. Petersburg resident Albert Wieringa recently earned a couple top finishes while visiting Panama for two weeks.

Racing a 10K Sunday in Panama City, Wieringa, 64, won first place in the men's 60 and older age group after crossing the finish line in 42:47.

A week earlier on Nov. 7, Wieringa captured the men's 60 and older age group at the Panama Armed Forces Running Association Five-Miler in Clayton, Panama. Wieringa ran 33:57 and placed third overall.

GREATER GATOR DUATHLON

While visiting his daughter at the University of Florida, St. Petersburg resident Craig Hutchison ran the Greater Gator Duathlon on Nov. 7 and placed first in the men's 50-54 division.

Hutchison, 53, crossed the finish line in 57:47 and was first in his age group by 40 seconds.